View from the Corner: HBO boss resigns

Published 11:53 pm, Saturday, July 23, 2011

Opening flurry

HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, once regarded as the most powerful man in boxing, resigned from the network under pressure last week despite having several months remaining on a multimillion dollar contract.

Greenburg, 56, a San Antonio native, presided over the largest budget in televised boxing — about $35 million a year — to buy fights.

Reports say Greenburg's downfall can be traced to HBO losing Manny Pacquiao to Showtime for his May 7 fight with Shane Mosley. Pacquiao's major fights had all been on HBO or HBO Pay-Per-View.

Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) stopped Ramos (24-4, 18 KOs) at 1:46 of the first round July 16 at Quintana Roo, Mexico. Ramos went down on the first serious flurry of punches and was counted out.

Alvarez on PPV: ﻿The fight between Saul Alvarez, the most popular fighter in Mexico, and Alfonso Gomez has been confirmed for Sept. 17 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout will be part of the HBO Pay-Per-View split package the same night featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz in Las Vegas.

Canseco woes:﻿﻿ A celebrity boxing promoter has won a $7,600 judgment against Jose Canseco for breach of contract after the former baseball slugger agreed to a bout March 26 in Hollywood, Fla., but tried to trick the promoter by sending his twin brother, Ozzie, instead.

Cotto-Margarito site: The details are still being worked out on the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito rematch Dec. 3, but officials last week announced the site for the fight, Madison Square Garden.

Leija Jr. bout: James Leija Jr., who is 5-0 competing at 141 pounds, will compete in the Games of Texas in Waco, July 28-31.

S.A. boxer beaten: Super bantamweight Jesus Rivera (0-1) of San Antonio lost his pro debut to Oscar Tovar (3-0, 2 KOs) of McAllen on July 16 in Harlingen. Rivera lost by TKO at 1:24 of the first round.